War-crimes suspects Taher, Noni held in Netrakona

Court Correspondent

Police arrested two war-crimes suspects named Obaidul Huq alias Abu Taher and Ataur Rahman alias Noni-from Netrakona on Tuesday, hours after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued a warrant for their arrest.

Confirming the arrest, designated prosecutor Sabina Y Munni told that the tribunal passed the order from its chamber following a prosecution-petition seeking issuance of warrant for their arrest as war-crimes suspects.

Passing the order, the tribunal asked the law enforcers to produce the two war-crimes suspects before it immediately after their arrest.

Besides, the tribunal asked the ICTs investigation agency to file a report on the progress of investigation of the case by September 14.

Earlier, designated prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal had submitted the petition apprehending that the two war-crimes suspects might flee to evade justice and try to manipulate the proposed witnesses as influential persons not to provide evidence against them.

According to the prosecution, the investigation agency has, in the meantime, found prima facie incriminating materials against Obaidul and Ataur for committing the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971 as contemplated in section 3 (2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

Netrakona correspondent adds: In compliance with the tribunal order, police arrested the two war crimes suspects -- Taher, 63, son of late Maulana Manjurul Huq, and Noni, 61, son of late Ahsan Ali Mukter -- from separate areas at Muktar Para in the town.

According to police, the arrested persons killed Badiuzzaman Mukta, a valiant freedom fighter, during the Liberation War in October, 1971.

A nephew of the martyred freedom fighter filed a case in 2010 with the judicial magistrate court of Netrakona accusing twelve (12) anti-liberation forces including Taher and Noni. After recording initial statement of the complainant Ali Raza Kanchan, the magistrate forwarded the case to the International Crimes Tribunals for order.